(This piece is purely fictional.....unfortunately)
Here I am holding on for dear life, as the bus hurtles along the busy streets of Mumbai. I have just been yelled with the choicest of Hindi abuses, because I selfishly refused to share the last inch of space on the bus step where I managed to squeeze my fat foot.
If life isn’t complicated enough already, we have to keep up with the Jaffrey’s (who by the way have sent their children to Canada “in search of greener pastures”). I use the in-born linguist in me to retaliate, “The grass is always greener on the other side”. Think about it, the Jaffrey kids are probably knee deep in snow and hardly even see grass!
If the fact that we are struggling to survive in this chaotic metropolis city isn’t bad enough, Mrs. Jaffrey spares no effort to boast about the multitude of extra curricular activities her children are pursuing. “Karan is learning skiing, rugby, ice-hockey and flying. And my daughter is president of the Cultural Society. It is important for the overall personality development hai na? Now, they are very happy.”
Driving her kids to Canada, she didn’t stop there. Her husband was the next poor victim. Harassed enough by a resolute wife, they too had applied for immigration to the land of “opportunity”. Ever since, there has been a cold war between our families and mother is forever defeated in her meek attempts to defend her “izzat”. Yet, we are not easily beaten :)
“We are not less, we will show them”, my mother says. This is translated as, “I will give that woman more mental torture, than she has ever known in her life”. How does she accomplish this delicious strike of revenge. It is quite simple really. She very tastefully brings up the conversation of the nightmare - the "firang bahu". The devil in disguise who will break all family ties forever. And more importantly, "who will cook those hot hot chapattis and sabzi for beta Karan?" Or even more nightmarish, “Nowadays, these young people live together before shaadi”, she adds in a devilish whisper. They become strangers to their own kind……foreigners to their parents. Mrs. Jaffreys face takes on a pale hue as mother looks on, smug as a bug and pleased as punch. Her victory is complete.
You don’t have to go to Canada to be happy. Just torment the lot of people who have decided to move on. That my dear, is sweet, sweet happiness.
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14 comments:
My family has someone like that, an uncle (not a blood uncle but someone that has been a friend of your dads since you were little so you call uncle, any Indian will understand this) Anyway, he goes on and on about who's son is a millionaire, and he has a very long list. It gets rather redundant not to mention boring. Like you, I would just like to say, "Who cares?"
Hey Nicole,
Though this is a piece of fiction, I am sure many such Jaffrey families can be found around us, especially in a metropolis like Mumbai. As always, a real sweet parting touch. But then, putting a pin to somebody's ego is always fun, isn't it? Especially when he/she tends to grate on your nerves by going on and on about it.
lol, loved it, verry cute and real too. i met a woman on train who lives in uk and was scared her son will marry a firang. i asked her what's the problem with that, her reply was more of less the same as who will cook hot chappatis. :)
honestly it can be bloody tiring to keep up with the joneses or jafferies of this world and yet so many go crazy doing just that.
ey nicole,nice post! these things really happened but as neel said, who cares?
cj is right. your writing is fun to read. and speaks so real too. it is sad though that people in our part of the world think it's always better in the western hemisphere. there is something wrong with people bailing out of their own country and forcing their way into other countries that do not want them.
Neel-> It takes all sorts to make this world :)
Sameer-> Totally.
Gulnaz-> Hahaha...wheres W H Longfellow who said, "what is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare"
Eden-> Nice to see you back! Thanks
Bismuth-> Yeah, thats the really sad part. I dont know if immigrants are ever totally accepted wherever they go. Thanks for visiting.
nicole, nice post, good read.Part of life huh , I just stay the hell away from people like that, quite sickening really, bores me senseless, we all have our share of insecurities but to blatently display one's own by keeping up with the jones is a sure sign of need.BIG NEED.
I think the world would be a poorer place if we didn't all move around. I know it's a complex issue but there are so many things I would never have come across and so many friends I would not have met
hehe...too bad its fictional...
u dont think u cud let da assumption o reality stay cud u :D
Missy-> I have to say I listen to them all and do my own damn thing! ;)
Sue-> Yes, of course. Imagine what narrow-minded one-dimensional thinking people we would be if we didnt travel and experience dfferent cultures and peoples. Yet, what I was trying to portray here is the stereotypical "You have to get out of this place to ever have a chance at a good life" kind of attitude which (in India for sure) seems to be becoming a trend.
Elixir-> Although it is fictional, it is based on reality as everyone above has pointed out :)
My wife and I had dinner recently with someone we know who always goes on about how this son has achieved this and that daughter is going to be something wonderful and how they live in the lap of luxury but, and here is the big question are they any happier and do their children love them any more than mine? no way jose!
hilarious! i enjoyed every bit of it. love your style
CJ-> I'll bet yor kids love you to bits. Dads are very important and special people!
Nayan-> Hi! Thanks
Rebel-> Thanks....will visit your blog soon.
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